Far From The Maddening Crowds - Chicane

This 97 release from Bracegirdle (aka Chicane) is one of the best things to appear on the ambient scene for a long while. The cd is crammed full of tracks that will have you shouting Geeennnnius out of your car windows.... The album had four tracks released as singles although those were never extremely massive hits (even though they deserved to be). Offshore was probably the most popular of these and appeared in clubs and on mix cd's in various remixed guises. Alot of those were including the vocals found on the remix edition featured on this album. The best track here is Lost You Somewhere which is just fantastic, with an excellent blend of ...  Read the complete review

Chicane started out as a duo, whose work is highlighted on this album, but one of them left as he felt they were becoming too commercial. So, this album is split between collaboration and Nick Bragegirdle's solo efforts. It's a different style to the chartier stuff turned out recently. Starting on a progressive slant, nothing much happens during the ambient first two tracks. Lost you Somewhere is the first single on the album, an nice bit of trance. The ablum seems to be a concept piece - the titles reflect a night in Ibiza - Sunstroke, Red Skies, The Drive Home, but its far more lid back than any 'Ibiza' compilation. Standout tracks are the ...  Read the complete review